, a spokesman and consultant for the Missouri Republican Party, as a strategist."I'd wondered what had became of him.
FReepmail me to be on, or off, this list,
Supposed to be a low volume ping list.
(sorry folks, seems to be a lot of Missouri news lately)
BS! We already know this would go into the general revenue for pork.
Hit your puff lists folks.
I'm about to fire up the network again and start putting out the newsletter.
PUFF
I can make an argument that , if taxes need to be collected, it makes sense to target those products that cost society (and the government) money.
Like entrance fees for federal parks that are expensive to maintain.
And taxes on cigarettes that cost us a great deal of money for health insurance and lost productivity.
BTW Missouri non smoker. Exactly seven years tomorrow Oct 15th. My son smokes now and this will affect him and his pocketbook. Good, I wish he would quit. I smoked two packs a day for twenty years. The consequences of my action will show up one day in my health. My earlier poor example has showed up in the oldest child. I think of that every time I see him puff.
But the "Nanny's" know what's best.
Even my non-smoking friends voted against it, because they know that once the pols start, they'll find a reason to tax other things that they may enjoy.
, a spokesman and consultant for the Missouri Republican Party, as a strategist."I'd wondered what had became of him.
Wow.
Smuggling- and the violence and crime that go along with it- gets more profitable and attractive every day.
People were "running cigs" back in the '80s.
Eventually, tobacco will be banned, and it will be the same colossal failure that Prohibition of alcohol was, and that the War on Drugs has been.
I think I may have to put in a couple acres of 'baccy out behind the still. . .
Terrible headline. This is not supported by the Republican party in Missouri.
They hired some FORMER Republican Campaign advisors to push the vote.
Signed:
Gene from Missouri.
This was one of the issues that made me a republican in the late 90s. I quickly learned that Republicans are no more friends of smokers than democrats are. If this issue is important to any of you, look at specific candidates and what they say. If they don't speak specifically about this issue, it's safe to assume they are nanny statists.
This is the usual smoke and mirrors of so called "targeted taxes" which will supposedly be "earmarked for specific purposes".
This BS has as much basis in reality as the social security "trust fund", or the tooth fairy. Here in Florida, this approach has been very successfully used repeatedly to sucker [stupid] voters into approving taxes they think someone else will have to pay.
Debunking:
1 - All the money goes into the same kitty. More often than not the same amount of money could be "raised" by cutting some worthless fat from the budget somewhere else. This notion that this tax dollar is for this, and that tax dollar is for that is flat out horse apples.
2 - This is thinly disguised social engineering wrapped in the mantra of someone else paying the taxes that will benefit you. If we should tax "sin" then every member of congress should be taxed at a rate of 95%. Especially since they are costing us a hell of a lot more than smokers!
What a bunch of idiots. Our ignorant Democrap pols tried that here and the Black Market took off. Pols prove that history repeats itself.
powder..patch..ball fire!
The last time they tried this we found out that the 100 million for treatment programs was going to go to the research hospitals here in Missouri...
Great way to gather their support... They couldn't get us to do it with a vote so they are going to try another way...
Bullsh*t
for the record: I am not a smoker. taxes for the sake of taxing make me smoke....
'Robin Hood in reverse:' Retailers foresee problems with cigarette tax
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
By JONATHON DAWE, Statesman Staff Writer
Theft, a thriving black market and a crippling blow to the Missouri economy is what Ron Leone, executive director for the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (MPCA) is anticipating if a newly proposed tax is passed by the voters next year.
A coalition of more than 100 nonprofit groups proposed a new tax of 80 cents per-pack increase on the purchase of cigarettes last week. And, while the proposal is being hailed by anti-smoking advocates, it is receiving unfavorable attention from Leone's organization.
Leone said he would first question the wisdom of the attempted tax increase being so high after Missouri voters defeated a proposed increase a couple years ago.
Leone claims that the MPCA was instrumental in defeating Proposition A, the 50-cent per-pack increase on cigarettes on the November 2002 ballot. Leone said the success was impressive because only 26 percent of the population at the time used tobacco products.
"The Prop A proponents spent in excess of $5.6 million, and MPCA spent only $41,000," Leone said. "That tells me how the voters of Missouri feel about an increased tax. The majority of Missourians don't smoke; but the majority of Missourians are very fair-minded."
Leone said he couldn't help but question the wisdom of proposing a more drastic tax after a smaller one failed.
Although the Committee for a Healthy Future is proposing the collected revenue from the tax go to pay for those who were cut from Missouri's Medicaid roles this year, Leone said he views the proposal as "Robin Hood in reverse."
"There are a lot of corporations involved who stand to benefit from this," Leone said. "They are just trying to use this proposal as a smoke-screen to line their own pockets. They're wanting to basically steal from the poor to give to the rich."
According to figures released by the Committee for a Healthy Future, the proposed tax would raise an estimated $351 million a year. But it would also put Missouri's cigarette sale tax higher than the national average. The Committee has reported that 54 percent of the tax revenue would be used for healthcare assessment and treatment for the uninsured. But Leone remains unconvinced as to the tax's proposed effects.
"If we truly have a state-wide problem, then we should have a state-wide solution," Leone remarked. "We shouldn't tax a minority to pay for other programs.
"What must be taken into consideration is what this tax would do to our economy. The majority of smokers will not stop smoking. They will just go elsewhere to buy cigarettes; and that could cause us to lose our competitive edge over the states that surround Missouri."
Leone predicted slumping sales in all manner of industry if the tax were to pass.
"I think this is just the beginning," Leone said. "This is an incestuous relationship between big businesses and anti-smoking zealots; and, if this passes they will target fast-food next."
Leone said his organization is not opposed to a compromise, though.
"If they would be willing to sit down and talk to us about a lower figure, then we might be O.K.," Leone remarked. "But they would have to come down quite a bit from what they are proposing."
Locally, Randall Swindle, owner of "On the Go" convenience store, is against the proposal.
"I'm dead against it," Swindle said. "I think it would be really bad for business. It isn't fair and it would hurt all convenience stores."
One of the reasons Swindle is against the tax is because he says cigarettes have been taxed enough.
"I think they ought to just leave (cigarettes) alone," Swindle said. "I think most of the smokers have gotten used to the higher prices. But, we just opened this convenience store and we don't want to have to deal with something that would hurt our sales. This tax would definitely hurt our sales."
Leone said he has no doubt the MPCA would defeat the proposed tax, no matter what amount of money may be spent is support of the tax.
"I want to give them one last opportunity to compromise before (the MPCA) goes on the attack," Leone remarked. "But, there's no doubt in my mind that we will defeat this proposal."
Jonathon Dawe can be reached via e-mail at jbdawe@dailystatesman.com
...and their answer? Why, to tax other things at an even higher rate to make up for "lost tax revenue"!
So, once again, the average joe has been sold out by politicians on both sides of the aisle. What a shock.
You know, i don't smoke and I really don't care for the habit but I find it so idiotic and absurd to raise the tax on cigarettes.
I can only imagine the public outcry if they decided to put this kind of burden on those who drink coffee, or a one gallon jug of Mountain Dew every morning.
Had the tobacco companies simply pulled their products off the shelves the states would have SOL
Stupid is as stupid does.
Ya know, it seems high damn time that the poor and uninsured take care of themselves. I know that sounds harsh but every time I turn around I'm asked to give away money I EARNED to take care of someone else who didn't earn their own care. When does it stop?
revenue grab.
...funny who ends up wanting to raise taxes.